Reading Specialist

Summary

The Elementary School Reading Specialist/Coach is part of the school instructional team. The primary responsibility of the Elementary School Reading Specialist is to build the capacity of teachers to provide effective reading instruction that addresses the 5 elements of reading, with special emphasis on addressing reading deficits in K-3 students to close gaps in learning and bring students to grade-level performance.

Our mission is to prepare students for success in life. If you are dedicated to a pursuit of excellence both in yourself and our students; if you are self-motivated; if you are an innovator and if you want to play a key role in changing young lives --we are looking for U. 

Role Responsibilities

Performance Responsibilities:

• Help to increase instructional density, coach and mentor K-3 teachers and paraprofessionals in implementation of effective strategies 
• Actively participate in professional development activities 
• Assists in the administration of benchmark testing. Interprets and disseminates results of benchmark assessments to k-3 teachers. 
• Collaborated with Reading Interventionists to create intervention groups at Tier III and Tier II levels. Establish the caseloads for the Reading Paraprofessionals using benchmark data to identify those in need of extra support. 
• Refine the system for intervention instruction and monitoring progress of those identified students, Developmental Reading 

1. Develops and implements a remediation plan for scholars who receive an Individualized Reading Improvement Plan (IRIP) in compliance with the Third Grade Reading Law. 
2. Utilizes the Orton-Gillingham methods of intervention and instruction for primary students. 
3. Plans and conducts periodic evaluations to assess the need for changes in the reading interventions.
4. Plans and develops special reading projects and literacy events as approved 
5. Serves as a resource to the leadership team in areas of reading instruction and curriculum.
6. Assesses the reading referrals of parents/guardians, teachers, and support staff. 
7. To provide for remedial instructional needs of students K-5 through collaboration with MTSS TEAM. 
8. Step into classrooms to support small group instruction

Qualifications

• Education and Certification
  • Master's degree required
  • 4 or more years’ experience teaching reading preferred
  • Must maintain either a valid Michigan teaching certificate 

• Experience
  • Advanced training in the teaching of Reading and coaching of teachers
  • Providing reading intervention to elementary-aged students
  • Coaching teachers
  • Professional development for teachers
  • Working in an urban school setting
  • Working in a collaborative team
  • Working with families and students as partners in learning 
  • Committed to holding all students to high expectations for academic and personal success

• Skills
  • Ability to distill essential findings from analysis, determine root causes, and suggest ways to improve current practices
  • Strong communication skills, verbal and written
  • Strong leadership skills

• Demonstrates U Prep’s Core Values
  • We work well by ourselves and in teams
  • We care about people
  • Our actions have a purpose
  • We think big and do
  • Learning is exciting